Amusement device for testing a person&#39;s timing ability



- Filed NOV. 29, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 1952 v. A. PETERSON 2,587,381

AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR TESTING A PERSONS TIMING ABILITY HUG 19 B C D INVENTOR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

V. A. PETERSON AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR TESTING A PERSONS TIMING ABILITY 7 l lu 36 mm Feb. 26, 1952 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATS AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR TESTING A PERSONS TIMING ABILITY Vernon A. Peterson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gino-Lite BusinessTrust, Chicago, 111., a common law trust ApplicationNovember 29, 1946, Serial No. 713,171

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) The present invention relates to an amusement apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for testing on-es timing ability.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which, by simple manipulation of control means, will present a signal of the character depending upon how long a period of time the control means is engaged by the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken. in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred, form of the i nvention is disclosed. I

Referring to the drawings:

. Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the exterior of the amusementapparatus of the invention.

Fig-2 is a wiringv diagram illustrating the electricalv circuits which are provided for actuating and controlling the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section of the unit comprising the motor, contact arm and contact disk of the apparatus.

In the embodiment illustrated, the apparatus is housed in a cabinet Iilhaving. positioned thereon a control button I I of a control switch hereafter referred to. The length of time the control button is depressed determines, by means of the apparatus of. the present invention, which signal A, B, C or D will be energized. A pilot light I2 is provided for a. purpose hereinafter to be described.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 2, if an alternating current is used as the energy source, the control circuits of theapparatus are energized through a transformer I3, the

primary of which is connected to the main line.

and the secondary of which is connected to the control circuits. The apparatus is conditioned for operation upon closing of the switch I4 which may be positioned in any convenient location on the exterior or interior of the cabinet.

The control button II is connected to and actuates the double throw switch I5, the center pole I6 of which is spring urged normally against upper contact I! of the switch I5. The depression of the control button I I breaks the connection between the pole I6 and contact I! and efiects a connection betweenthe pole I5 and lower contact I8 ofthe switch I5.

To start the apparatus, the control button H is depressed to effect connection between the pole I6 and lower contact I8 of the switch I5. When this connection is efiected, a circuit is completed through the winding of solenoid 19, thus energizing thissolenoid. This circuit is completed from the transformer [3 through lines and 2 I, pole I6, contact I8, lines 22 and 23, the winding of solenoid I9, and lines 24 and 25 back to the transformer. The energization of solenoid IS closes contacts 26 and'contacts 21, the closing of the contactsizl resultingin the energization of motor 2 M. Connected to a shaft 28 driven by the motor is a contact arm 29 which is rotated upon ener gization of the motor; i

The rotation of the contact arm 29-resu1tsin the contact of the arm successively with contacts 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35 positioned on a, disk 36 of insulating material such as fiber or the like. Contacts 30, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are spaced equally apart.

" When the operator releases the control button I I, the connection between pole I6 and the lower contact I8 of the switch I5 is broken. and the pole I5 is urged to engage the upper contact I1 1 the switch 45. When pole I6 engages upper contact. I'I, one of the solenoids 31, 38, 39 or will be actuated, depending upon which contact (SI, 32, 33, or 34) the contact arm 29 is passing over at the time pole I6 engages contact I I. For example, if the contact arm 29 is passing over or is about to pass over contact 3| when the connection is made between pole it and contact H of switch I5, solenoid 31 will be energized. The circuit for the energization of solenoidv 31 may be traced from the transformer through lines 25, 4i and 42, contact 43 on the shaft of contact arm 29, contact arm 29, contact3I, line 44, the winding of solenoid 31, line, contact I! and pole I5 of switch I5, and lines 2| and 20 back to the transformer. I

The energization of solenoid 31 results inthe closing of contacts 46 thereby causing energization of signal A by completing the circuit from the main line through lines 41 and. 48, contact 46, line 49, signal A and line 50 backto the main line. The signal A may be any electrically actuated signal, for example an electriclight. 7

By reason of a locking circuit for the solenoid I9, this solenoid will. remain energized even'after the contact between pole I 6 and contaotIiI of the controlswitch l5 isbroken upon release, by the operator ofthe control button II,'; This locking circuit can be traced from the transformer through lines 25 and 24, the winding of solenoid I9, lines 23, 5| and. 52, contacts 26 of solenoid l9; normally closed contacts 53 of a solenoidv and lines 54 and 20 backto thetrans- .former; Accordingly the motor will continue 'to. rotate ;the contact arm 29 until-the contact arm has engaged contact 35, which results in the energization of solenoid 55 and consequently the opening of contacts 53 to thereby break the circuit through the winding. of the solenoid I9. Therefore, when the contact arm 29 engages the contact 35, solenoid I9 will be d-e-energized, thus breaking contacts 21 in the motor circuit andresulting in the stopping of the motor.

The passing of contact arm 29 over contacts subsequent to the contact controlling the energized signal solenoid (for example the-solenoid 37) will not result in theenergization of the subsequent. signal solenoids. ,Thus, assuming again the short energization of pilot light [2.

'tact arm 29. circuit through the pilot light can be traced from the transformer through lines 25, 41, 42,

' control the apparatus.

that signal solenoid 31 has been energized, the energization of this solenoid opens contacts 56 thus breaking the circuit to all of the solenoids following solenoid 31.

A locking circuit for each signal solenoid results in the energized solenoid remaining actuated even after the contact arm 29 has left the contact controlling that solenoid and until the pole i6 of control switch l5 again engages the lower contact I8 of the switch or until switch [4 is opened. The locking circuit for solenoid 31 is through contacts 51 which are closed upon energization of solenoid 31. This locking circuit may be traced from the transformer through lines 25, 4| and 58, contacts 51, line 59, the winding of solenoid 31, line 45, contact I! and pole l6 of switch 15, and lines 2| and 20 back to the transformer.

The operation of the remaining signal solenoids and the signals which they control is the same as the operation of signal solenoid 31 and signal A. Accordingly, the description of the operation of signal solenoid 37 and the circuits controlling and controlled by this solenoid should suffice.

Upon start of rotation of the contact arm 29, it first passes over contact 30 which results in It will be assumedthat the operator will maintain control button ll depressed at least until the pilot light is energized so that the operator has an indication of the starting of rotation of the con- On the foregoing assumption, the

contact 43, contact arm 29, contact 38, line 60, pilot light l2, lines 6|, 5i, and 22, contact l8 and pole l6 of switch 15, and lines 2! and 20 back to'the transformer. Contact arm 29 is positioned so that it cannot be seen by the oper- 'ator, but by observing the energization of the pilot light, the operator can estimate the time it will take for the contact arm to reach any "desired contact 3| to 34.

With alternating current as the source of energy, a hysteresis or synchronous electric motor, particularly a single phase, self-starting "motor of a known type having high synchrothe main line through switch l4. When direct current is used, any suitable constant speed direct current motor can be employed.

The spacing between contacts 35 and 30 is such as to allow the motor and contact arm to' come up to full speed before the contact arm passes over contact 35. By having all of contacts 30 to 34 spaced an equal distance, the operator can judge, after some experience, the length of time it will take for the contact arm 29 to reach any desired contact after the contact arm :has passed the contact 30 for the pilot light.

Preferably "a speed reducer is interposed between the motor and the contact arm in order that the contact arm will operate at a sufficiently slow speed to enable the operator to properly Ithas been found that a speed of two revolutions per minute of the "contact arm is satisfactory.

In Fig. 3 there is disclosed more or less dia- 'and25 can be connected directly to the main line, the line 25 preferably being connected to grammatically the mounting of the motor M,

contact arm 29 and disk 36 inside of the cabinet Ill. The motor is mounted in any suitable manner upon a platform 62 attached in any convenient manner to a side wall '63 of the cabinet ID. The motor drives shaft 28 through a speed reducer 64. Secured on shaft 28 is an insulating sleeve over which is secured a conducting sleeve 66 to which is attached in any suitable manner the contact arm 29. Mounted on an insulating block 61 on the platform 62 is contact 43 which engages the conducting sleeve 66 associated with the contact arm 29. The contact disk 36 containing the contacts 38 to 35 may be attached in any suitable manner, for example by rods 68, to the side wall 63 of the cabinet. The contact arm 29 carries a brush 69 which engages the contacts on the disk 36 as the contact arm is rotated. The solenoids, switches and signals may be mounted in the cabinet in any suitable manner.

Obviously, the control button H and switch I5, as well as the pilot light and signals can be placed remotely from the remaining apparatus and need not be incorporated on or within the cabinet.

For purposes of simplification, only four signals and their associated solenoids and contacts have been shown, but it will be understood that any desired number may be used. For example, if desired, a signal corresponding to each letter of the alphabet may be employed. In this instance, With the contact arm travelling two revolutions per minute, the time interval between the closing of each contact would be about second.

In order that relatively small solenoids may be used, where the ordinary volt alternating current supply is available, the step-down transformer I3 is employed to reduce the voltage in the controlling circuits to 25 volts or less, for example to as low as 6 volts. Obviously, if desired, the motor and/or signals if operated at a lower voltage than 110 volts also could be connected to the main alternating current line through a stepdown transformer.

It will be apparent that other forms of the invention could be made and it is not intended to limit this invention to the specific form shown.

I claim:

1. In an amusement device, a motor, control means, movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a holding circuit energized by movement of said control means to motor starting position, said holding circuit when energized preventing interruption of the actuation of said motor after release by the operator of said control means, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be rotated by said motor, contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm when the latter rotates, signal means, means connected with each of said contacts for actuating said signal means, only one of said signal means being selectively actuated upon release of said control means, the signal means actuated depending upon which contact is engaged or is about to be engaged by the contact arm when the control means is released, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means while the selected signal is still actuated, and means to deenergize said holding circuit for stopping said motor after said contact arm has engaged all of said contacts.

2. In an amusement apparatus, a motor, control means movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be rotated by said motor, contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm as the latter rotates, signal means, means connected with each of said contacts for actuating said signal means upon release of said control means, the signal means actuated being determined by the contact engaged or about to be engaged by the contact arm at the time the control means is released by the operator, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means and means for stopping said motor only after the contact means has contacted all of said contacts.

3. In an amusement apparatus, a motor, control means movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a holding circuit energized by movement of said control means to motor starting position, said holding circuit whenv energized preventing interruption of the actuation of the motor after release of the control means, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be actuated by said motor, a series of contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm, signal means, means for manually releasing said control means, means connected with said contacts for actuating one of a number of said signal means upon manual release of the control means from motor starting position, the signal means actuated being determined by the contact about to be engaged or engaged by the contact arm at the time the control means is released, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means while the selected signal means is still actuated and means to deenergize said holding circuit for stopping said motor after said contact arm has engaged all of said contacts.

4. In an amusement device, a motor, control means, movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a holding circuit energized by movement of said control means to motor starting position, said holding circuit when energized preventing interruption of the actuation of said motor after release of said control means, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be rotated by said motor, contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm when the latter rotates, signal means, means connected with each of said contacts for actuating said signal means, only one of said signal means being selectively actuated upon release of said control means, the signal means actuated depending upon which contact is engaged or is about to be engaged by the contactarm when the control means is released, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means while the selected signal is still actuated, a pilot light, a contact connected therewith and positioned in advance of the other contacts, said contact arm when rotated engaging the pilot light contact before engaging the contacts for the signal means, the engagement of the contact arm with the pilot'light contact energizing the pilot light when the control means is actuated, and means for stopping said motor after said contact arm has engaged all of said contacts.

5. In an amusement device, a motor, control means movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a holding circuit energized by movement of said control means to motor starting position, said holding circuit when energized preventing interruption of the actu- 6 ation of said motor after release of said control means, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be rotated by said motor, contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm when the latter rotates, signal means, means connected with each of said contacts for actuating said signal means, only one of said signal means being selectively actuated upon release of said control means, the signal means actuated depending upon which contact is engaged or is about to be engaged by the contact arm when the control means is released, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means while the selected signal is still actuated, and an additional contact positioned to be engaged by the contact arm after the other contacts have been so engaged, the engagement of the contact arm with said additional contact being adapted to actuate means to de-energize the motor.

6. In an amusement apparatus, a motor, con trol means movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be rotated by said motor, contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm as the latter rotates, signal means, means connected with each of said contacts for actuating said signal means upon release of said control means, the signal means actuated being determined by the contact engaged or about to be engaged by the contact arm at the time the control means is released, means for preventing actuation of any other of the signal means while the motor is still operating, means for stopping said motor only after the contact means has contacted all of said contacts, and an additional contact positioned to be engaged by the contact arm after the other contacts have been so engaged, the engagement of the contact arm with said additional contact being adapted to actuate said means for stopping the motor.

'7. In an amusement apparatus, a motor, control means movable to a motor starting position from which it is later released, a contact arm connected to said motor and adapted to be actuated by said motor, a series of contacts arranged to be successively engaged by said contact arm, signal means, and means connected with said contacts for actuating one of a number of said signal means upon release of the control means, the signal means actuated being determined by the contact which is engaged or about to be engaged by the contact arm when the control means is released, said control means comprising a twoposition switch, said switch when in one position energizing means for actuating the motor,

, means for completing the circuit for the energization of the selected signal means, and said switch when in the other position energizing said means for completing the circuit for the energization of the selected signal means.

VERNON A. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS 

